US Soccer is now a few games into the Jurgen Klinsmann era, and the results so far have been... less than inspiring. On the surface, two losses to Belgium and Costa Rica, and a draw against Mexico don't look so hot. The press and Twitter are starting to buzz about whether Klinsmann is the right guy to take the US forward after all. Even though I was initially very skeptical of the Klinsmann choice, I'm definitely open to the idea that I might have underestimated. So I'll run down my thoughts so far.
First things first, three friendlies is NOT a sufficient sample size to decide much of anything. Friendlies are friendly for a reason-- the result is secondary to learning things about your team. And probably the biggest positive for me has been Klinsmann's willingness to bring a wide range of players into the mix. Against Mexico, Edgar Castillo and Michael Orozco Fiscal got into the mix at the back, and Jose Torres got another run out in midfield, along with Kyle Beckerman. Edson Buddle was included up top. Brek Shea got looks against Costa Rica and Belgium. Even Jeff Larentowicz was brought on in the last game. Now, the counter-argument is that the experimentation didn't necessarily do all that much good-- Shea was one of our better attacking players in both games he played, but Torres was OK against Costa Rica but pretty bad against both Mexico and Belgium. Orozco Fiscal was mediocre both times he ran out. Buddle was terrible against Mexico. Castillo was so bad in his two appearances, I found myself wishing for the Jon Bornstein days. But even though none of the new(er) faces, besides Shea, showed much, that doesn't mean that trotting them out wasn't valuable. The more guys get on the field, the more we know about them, and seeing a wide range of players was very useful, as much for figuring out who definitely can't make the cut (Castillo) as for figuring out who might. Klinsmann was also willing to experiment withe personnel-- he tried Timmy Chandler at left back to get him and Steve Cherundolo on the field at the same time. Cherundolo's probably still a better right back at this point, but Chandler mostly held his own on the left, which was doubly impressive given that Belgium deployed one of the world's best young wide players in Eden Hazard on his wing.
So we've definitely gotten a look at a pretty broad range of guys, which I think is indisputably a good thing. Now, on the downside, I think Klinsmann is trying to coach the squad he wishes he had rather than the one he has. Against Mexico, he trotted out an odd 4-1-4-1, with three central midfielders in the middle, and a fourth deployed out wide, with a fifth sitting in a holding role. The result was (predictably) Bradley and especially Jones struggling to create much on the attack, and Torres drifting out of the game. Against Costa Rica, we got a weird 4-3-3, with Donovan lined up as an attacking center mid next to Torres and Maurice Edu behind them. Against Belgium, it was back to the 4-1-4-1, with Dempsey and Torres in the advanced central midfield role, and Edu sitting behind them (at least this time there were two real wide players in Shea and Robbie Rogers on the field instead of 5 center mids; ignore for a second that Rogers stinks).
My problem with these formations is that they're essentially built for attacking teams with midfielders who can retain possession under duress and unlock defenses with their passes. Spain can pull it off because Xavi never gives the ball away, and Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and Busquets are all very, very comfortable on the ball. The US's strength is our center mids' discipline and energy. But they're unremarkable passers at best, and they will make mistakes if they're pressured. Our biggest weakness is a lack of a natural playmaker, and no natural goalscorers up top.
These limitations scream out for a 4-2-3-1. Which four are at the back is an open question-- Carlos Bocanegra's been playing well in the middle (though he's getting up there in years; hopefully one of Omar Gonzalez or Tim Ream will develop into a reliable option there by 2014), and Cherundolo still deserves his spot at right back (though by the time the next World Cup rolls around, it'll almost definitely be Chandler's spot, as Cherundolo will be a geriatric 35 by then). Otherwise, I think Clarence Goodson is probably the front-runner next to Boca, as he's good in the air and is usually in position. Left back is still a problem-- Bornstein still stinks, and Castillo may be worse. Eric Lichaj is injured now, but he's probably the most promising option there. In the two holding spots, I like the idea of an Edu-Bradley partnership. They've both played pretty well in their last few appearances (Edu especially), and their passing isn't bad for that spot. Then, I like the idea of putting Jozy Altidore up top with Clint Dempsey in the central attacking mid role behind him-- Clint Dempsey's our most creative player, our best dribbler, and also probably the best goalscorer. I think the hole is the best place for him. But we do have a problem out wide-- Shea is showing me some nice qualities, but the other spot is wide open. Landon Donovan is still the best option there, but he'll be 32 by 2014 (old for a wide player, especially one who relies as much on his speed as Donovan), so I'd prefer to see him phased out. Ideally, Freddy Adu will develop into a viable option in the hole, and then Dempsey can be shifted out wide (he's only a year younger than Donovan, but he's better technically, which I think will allow his game to age better). While there are still a few years before the next World Cup, I'd like to see Klinsmann tailor his system to the personnel he's got rather than vice versa. Spain's 4-3-3 is great when you've got Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta in midfield. It's less great when you've got Edu, Jones and Bradley. Klinsmann should recognize those limitations and build his system around the players he's got, not vice versa.
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